Tubeless truck tire rim and valve



0, 1954 R. G. WADDELL 2,685,907

TUBELESS TRUCK TIRE RIM AND VALVE Filed April 21, 1953 Patented Aug. 10, 1954 TUBELESS TRUCK TIRE RIM AND VALVE Robert G. Waddell, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 21, 1953, Serial No. 350,008

3 Claims.

, The present invention relates to valves for inflating tubeless tires, and it is particularly adapted for valves of the type which are removably attached to truck tire rims.

A tubeless truck tire of the type that requires the introduction of tire inflationary fluid through the tire rim has heretofore presented a serious problem in getting the required fluid tight seal between the valve stem and the rim. One expedient has been to permanently attach the valve stem to the rim base as by welding or any other means found satisfactory. Permanent attachment of the valve stem to the rim simplifies the problem of obtaining an air-tight seal between the valve stem and the rim, but such constructions are not entirely satisfactory due to the fact that valve stems frequently become injured, and if the stem has been permanently attached to the rim, its replacement is frequently complicated. Means for removing a permanently attached valve stem, from the rim and replacing it, generally is not readily available to the user of the tire. Another expedient has been to use a valve stem of the type now in common use for tire inner tubes and provide a rubbery washer about the stem between the tire rim and the valve base, the rubbery washer being so disposed that it seals the rim valve hole about the valve stem. This latter expedient of using the rubbery washer has the advantage of making it convenient to remove and replace an injured valve stem, and presently is the most generally used means of attaching the valve stem to tubeless tire rims. Truck tire valve stems are often of considerable length, having a first extent from the base of the valve a distance to pass through the valve hole'in the rim and then a second and longer extent laterally of the rim, in order that the end of the stem, which houses the valve core, may be exposed and available for inflating the tire, by the application of the usual service station air chuck to the intake end of the valve stem. This disposition of the valve stem exposes it in service to contact with stones, sides of ruts and to various objects which sometimes causes the valve stem to be turned from itsoriginal position. Such turning frequently destroys the seal between the rubbery washer and rim at the valve hole resulting in a slow leak and deflation of the tire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means which prevent the turning of such angular valve when it is removably attached to a tire rim.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve stem and rim assembly for a tubeless tire, which stem is removably associated with the rim base in fluid tight nonrotatable relation therewith.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of a valve rim and tubeless tire assembly embodying the present invention, with only the bead portions of said tire being shown in dash lines illustrating said portions positioned in the assembly relative to the rim and valve;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the valve portion of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 illustrating the shape of the valve hole in the rim base and the complementary shape of the portion of the valve stem adapted to enter said hole; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective figure illustrating the elements of the valve stem and the washer which are disposed adjacent the valve base when the rim and the valve stem are assembled in operative position.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, it will be seen, by reference to Figure 1, that the invention comprises a rim referred to generally as I0. Rim l0 includes an endless side flange l, a tapered tire bead seat 2 which merges into a rim base 3 by a radially inwardly sloped stepoff 4. Base 3, opposite flange I, has a thickened portion 5, a continuous radially outwardly facing gutter 6, and a continuous radially outwardly extending edge portion '1. An endless removable side flange 8 is mounted on base 3 in laterally slidable relation therewith. Side flange 8 con prises a tire side flange portion 9 and a tapered tire bead seat ll, said seat I I extending laterally inwardly of flange 9 a distance suificient to substantially underlie the entire bead base of a tire with which it is to be used, the tire beads being indicated in dotted lines. A continuous groove I2 is disposed at the radially inner and lateral outer corner of flange 8 and is adapted to contact a portion of a rubber or rubber-like sealing ring l3 as will be understood as the description continues. Adjacent and radially outward of groove I2 is a circumferentially extending continuous radially outwardly sloped beveled portion Id adapted to receive and radially overlie a tip portion. 50 of a lock ring 5| as will be described. Lock ring 5| has a transverse split, not shown, said rounded peripheral tip 58 and a continuous circumferential groove 52, the latter providing a fit between the locking ring and the edge portion 1.

The sealing ring l3 shown is round in sectional contour, but it is to be understood that the section may be changed to any shape found satisfactory, as for example, wedge shape, U shape or the like. However, the cross-sectional area of the sealing ring must bear a definite relation to the sectional area of chamber 53, defined by base 3, flange 8, and locking ring 5!, which chamber the sealing ring occupies in service. The total volume of rubber in the sealing ring is preferably equal to the volume of chamber 53 although it will function properly if the volume of the ring is slightly more or less than the volume of chamber 53. Since rubber is noncompressible for practical purposes, it is desirable that the sealing ring be distorted, but does not block the movement of ring 8 from contact with lock ring 5| The rim base 3 has an oblong valve hole I5. It is to be understood, however, that the valve hole is may be multi-sided such as square, hexagonal, triangular, etc., without departing from the present invention. The valve stem, referred to generally as 2%, comprises an angular stem portion 25 having end portion 22 with both external and internal threads to receive a valve core 23 and valve cap 24, it being understood that the valve core and cap may be of any type found satisfactory such as those now in common use. The opposite end of valve stem 20 terminates in a head portion 25 (see Fig. 1) having a marginal flange 25, which flange is adapted to contact the lateral inner surface of the rim base about valve hole is. Said head portion terminates in an end portion 2*! which is adapted to enter and snugly fit into valve hole l5, portion 2'1 being of complementary shape to the shape of said valve hole. Head portion 25 is provided with an internally threaded recess 23' adapted-to receive in threaded relation a base'portion in the form of a nut 29. Nut 29 is provided with arr-externally threaded portion 30 adapted to enter threaded recess 28 inthreaded-relation therewith and flange portion 3 lwhichextends radially outwardly a distance sufiicient to overlie the rim about the edges of opening l5. Nut or base 29 is further provided with a wrench socket 32, whereby the nut is threaded into recess 23 and tightened against a sealing washer 33 which is disposed between-said flange 3| and'ther-im'base 3, whereby an air tight seal is provided about valve hole i5. Socket 32 communicates with a passage is through the central portion of said base or nut. Passage w is adapted toalign and communicate-with a central passage 4| through the stem 20.

The assembly W is made by first inserting portion 2? of valve Edinto valve hole i-E-of-the rim ii, after which the thread portion 39 of nut 29, with the washer 33 disposed about the threaded portion 30, is run down on its threaded portion into recess 23 and firmly tightened by means of a wrench in opening .32, whereby the washer is tightly. compressed between flange 31 and the rim base. Itis to. be understood that the washer may be of rubber or rubber-like material or of any other material found satisfactory. With the stem 251 and rim H. assembled as just described, a tubeless tire (not shown). is mounted upon the rim and is inflated through valve stem 26 by removing cap as: and attaching an air chuck, connected to inflationary air source, to the threaded end of the valvestem in the usual manner of inflating tires.

Valve hole i5, whether oblong. or of. other.

4 shape, is so disposed relative to the rim H, and the complementary shape of valve stem portion 2'? is so disposed relative to the angular stem 2i that in the assembly H], said valve angular stem portion extends substantially axially of the rim.

t will now be seen that, due to the non-round shape Of valve stem portion 2'5 fitting into a complementarily shaped valve hole i5, that in service, it is impossible to turn said valve stem in the valve hole. It will also be seen that, in the event the valve stem becomes injured or for any reason it is desired to remove it from the assembly, it will be a simple matter to demount the tire, remove nut and washer 29 and 33 respectively, by means of a suitable wrench inserted in socket 32. Removal of nut 29 frees the stem portion 25 from the assembly.

The detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated herein is not to be construed as limiting the invention thereto. The invention includes all features of patentable novelty residing in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.

What is claimed is:

l. A valve stem of the character described adapted to be removably attached to a tubeless tire rim for induction of inflationary fluid --rough the rim into a tubeless tire, said stem being formed of a barrel portion and a base portion, said barrel portion having a passageway therethrough and terminating at one end in a head portion having a threaded axially extending recess adapted to projectinto a valve stem hole in said rim, said base being in the general form or" a cap screw and being adapted to be threaded into saidrecess of the end of the barrel portion projected intosaid valve stem hole.

2. A tire rim and valve stem assembly adapted for use with a tubeless tire, said rim having an oblong valve stem hole through its base portion, said stem having a barrel portion which terminatesat one end in. ahead portionprojected and fitted into said valve hole, said head portion having a flange extending beyond the edge of said valve hole and contacting the radial inner surface of said rim, said headv having a thread recess opening radially outwardly of the rim, a stem base member in the. form of a hollow cap screw having a head flange which overlies the radial outer surface of the rim base about said valve hole, said cap screw being, in threaded relation with said recess, asealing washer between said cap screw flange and the rim, said barrel head portion projected into said oblong valve stem hole being of complementary oblong shape to the valve hole, said capscrevvbeing in tightened threaded relation with said barrel portion whereby said stem is, removably retained in said assembly in non-rotatable relation with said rim, and said washer forms an airtight seal between the valve stem andthe rim at said valve stem hole.

3. A tire rim and valve stem assembly adapted for use with a tubeless tire, said rim having a multi-sided valve stem hole through its base portion, said stem having. a. hollow barrel portion which'terminates atone end in a head portion having a cross-sectionalshape complementary to the shape of said valve hole and being projected and fitted into said valve hole, said head portion having a flange extending beyond theedge of said valve. hole, and contacting the radial inner surface of said rim, said head havinga thread recess; opening radially outwardlyof the rim, a

stem base member in the form of a hollow cap screw haying a head flange which overlies the radial outer surface of the rim base about said rim valve hole, said cap screw being in threaded relation with said recess, a sealing washer between said cap screw flange and said rim, said barrel head portion being projected into said multi--sidedf valve stem hole, said cap screw being in tightened threaded relation with said barrel portion whereby said stem is removably retained in said assembly in non-rotatable relation with References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS "."Name Date Dahl Sept. 2, 1913 Keefe Aug. 7, 1951 Number 

